A number of nongovernmental organizations, including the Association of Independent Press (API), the Independent Journalism Center and the Comrat-based Youth Center “Piligrim-Demo”, express their concern about the situation of the regional public broadcaster “Teleradio-Gagauzia” (“GagauzRadioTelevizionu” in the Gagauz language). According to the representatives of civil society, the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia adopted a bill on radio and television that violates the national legislation and that will generate the limitation of the freedom of expression in the region. The bill also contains a lot of contradictions and rebuilds the public company based on principles that run counter to the public spirit of a broadcaster.
API director Petru Macovei, in a news conference at IPN, said the bill was adopted following a conflict between the administration of “Teleradio-Gagauzia” and the company’s Supervisory Board that was chosen by the People’s Assembly based on political criteria. “This law takes a lot of provisions from the Broadcasting Code of Moldova, which formally declare and guarantee the freedom of expression and the editorial freedom of the radio and TV companies. Even if this thing is guaranteed by this law, the regional public company is obliged to broadcast free all the meetings of the People’s Assembly and the Executive Committee of Gagauzia, all the congresses of MPs, public debates staged by the local public administration, religious ceremonies, etc.,” stated Petru Macovei.
Coordinator of the legal department of the Independent Journalism Center Zinaida Gheata said the bill adopted by the People’s Assembly violates a number of legal acts, including the Law on the Freedom of Expression. “In the February 26 meeting of the Supervisory Board, it was announced that the public TV channel will enter technical redundancy, which means that the channel will be temporarily unable to continue to produce programs for economic reasons. The reasons were unclear. Consequently, we ascertain the violation of the Labor Code because it is not within the competence of the Supervisory Board to declare technical redundancy,” she stated.
“Piligrim-Demo” director Mihail Sirkeli considers the politicians in Gagauzia want to control the public company and use it to promote political ideas, which is against the principles of a public institution. “This is a reason for concern and we consider that this will lead to the limitation of the freedom of expression in Gagauzia. This is against the reforms aimed at ensuring the freedom of the media that take place in the country,” said Mihail Sirkeli.
A number of media NGOs of Moldova issued a statement by which they make a call to the Supervisory Board of “Teleradio-Gagauzia”, the State Chancellery of Moldova and the Bashkan of Gagauzia Irina Vlah. “We call on the Supervisory Board to resign as they showed that they yield to political influence and are unable to ensure the company’s independence. We call on the People’s Assembly to stage a transparent contest to fill the vacancies of Supervisory Board member,” reads the statement.
Also, the representatives of the NGOs ask that Irina Vlah should not promulgate the new law and should send it back to the Assembly for improvement. If the bill is adopted without respecting Moldova’s legislation on transparency in decision-making, the media NGOs will go to court and will seek its annulment.
